A previously secret financial deal between Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer was revealed by the German football federation on Thursday as it sought to further defend a payment to FIFA from 2006 World Cup organizers, AP reported. The explanation from an uneasy federation chairman Wolfgang Niersbach at a hastily-called news conference was followed by the global governing body saying the payment "in no way corresponds to FIFA's standard processes and regulations." The statements created further confusion over the 6.7 million-euro payment, which FIFA is investigating after German publication Der Spiegel claimed that the bidding team created a slush fund to secure votes. -- SPA 21:55 LOCAL TIME 18:55 GMT تغريد